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| Battle of the Somme remembrance route |
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| British WWI recruitment poster |
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| Poppyfield |
Today is Remembrance Day, or Poppy Day, or Armistice Day, a day for remembering those who lost their lives in the line of duty. The date was originally chosen because the First World War ended officially "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month". The date is marked throughout the world, though the poppy is less widely used as an emblem.
There has been something of an uproar this week because the England football (soccer) team is playing a friendly match on Saturday and wanted an embroidered poppy on the shirts. This was initially forbidden by FIFA, the sport's governing body, but compromise has been reached after the intervention of Prince William and the Prime Minister. England and Wales may now wear armbands with the poppies while Scotland will consult their opponents, Cyprus. In the Four Nations rugby league matches this weekend all teams will wear poppies on their shirts, the teams being England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand.
The three postcards above were bought in the Somme department of France, the area where some of the bloodiest battles of WWI took place: the Battle of Albert and the Battle of the Somme. Because the casualties were so very high during the Battle of the Somme, it has come to represent the horrors of war.
This is a post for Postcard Friendship Friday hosted on Beth Niquette's blog The Best Hearts are Crunchy.
Very important that we keep highlighting this. The card with the Remembrance route is beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteThat first card contains so much history. I wonder how many exist.
ReplyDeleteVery few. And is a shame.
ReplyDelete@Little Nell, it is SO important. Lest we forget.
ReplyDelete@Bob, it's an amazing part of the world.
@bardamu, you're right, a shame.
So wonderful to see so many bloggers posting remembrance posts...the poppy is such a stunning image, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteGreat post, thank you
ReplyDeleteThe Remembrance Route reminds me of the Catholic concept of "The Stations Of The Cross".
ReplyDeleteWow - thank you for finding and posting these remembrances. No matter which country you're in, no matter what side you're on ... the horrors of war need to be remembered, lest they be repeated.
ReplyDelete